Ten Ultra Music Festival rookies to catch at Ultra 2015

Ten Ultra Music Festival Rookies to Catch At Ultra 2015

Ultra Music Festival is the unofficial start of the summer season. Everybody in the music industry heads down to the tropical climate of Miami once a year to network and party around the newest electronic dance music for a weeklong stint. Dance music’s top talents premiere their upcoming material while up-and-coming artists have an open stage to impress the world and put themselves on the fast track to the top. This year at Ultra, there are a handful of acts that will be hitting the stages of Bayfront Park for the very first time, so we have compiled a list of the top 10 Ultra Music Festival Rookies for Ultra 2015.

Hot Since 82

Despite his heightened popularity amongst the Ibiza-crazed community, Hot Since 82 will be making his Ultra Music Festival debut in 2015. The British mix master only cuts and slices the hottest tracks from the underground scene, and festival-goers looking for an hour-long hypnosis can find that oasis at Hot Since 82’s time slot on Friday. A disclaimer: His set is not for the “feel-good community” as Hot Since 82 can be expected to delve into the dark depths of the most subterranean sounds.

Odesza

After accruing a massive fan base following their sophomore album In Return, Odesza has only been on the upswing with their nation-wide tour this year. The inability to pinpoint a specific genre to describe the duo’s sound only allows Odesza to push the sonic soundscape even further, surprising fans with every output they unleash. As a highly-anticipated live act at this year’s festival, Ultra attendees will want to post up at the live stage on Friday to watch the genre-bending performance.

Galantis

When Galantis made their debut at Coachella last year, fans were left absolutely exhausted from the energy that the Swedish duo managed to evoke with their electric stage presence. Their equipment setup of controllers, drum pads, and midi keyboards presents a unique hybrid performance that spices up the typical DJ set. If fans want to be spellbound into a melodic journey of progressive and electro house, they will want to arrive early on Saturday to see Galantis light up the Worldwide stage.

Milo & Otis

On stage, one sports a snapback and the other boasts a perfectly executed bowtie. They seem like an unlikely duo on paper, but Milo & Otis connect on a musical level much deeper than the eyes perceive. Their filthy trap beats have rocked thousands of festival crowds over the past two years as they have garnered a loyal fan base including OWSLA head honcho, Skrillex, who snagged them early on to be apart of his tight knit label family. For their first Ultra performance, Milo & Otis will be taking over a daytime slot on the OWSLA stage alongside the label’s other bass majors.

Oliver Heldens

“Gecko” may have single handedly been one of the biggest releases of the past year and a half. When Oliver Heldens finally took responsibility for the groundbreaking future house single, no one could believe that a 19-year-old Dutch kid could produce such a refreshing yet retro sound. Since then, Heldens has continued releasing new originals and remixes to show off his funky musical innovation. Already having taken on festivals like Tomorrowland and TomorrowWorld, Ultra is just the next notch for Oliver Heldens to add to his musical belt.

Kiesza

When “Hideaway” hit the top of the charts directly following its release, the million dollar question was: who is Kiesza? The Canadian singer rose to super stardom with her radio smash, and followed up in an epic way when she was tapped by Diplo and Skrillex for the vocal lead on Jack Ü’s debut track, “Take Ü There.” Her vocal talent can only be described as irresistibly catchy, and Ultra attendees looking for an impressive vocal performance should head over to the live stage for the nightingale’s festival debut.

Cashmere Cat

The EDM hipsters of the world pounce on the opportunity to critique artists who collaborate with “mainstream” acts that consume the press, but Cashmere Cat has managed to evade the hate regardless of who he jumps in the studio with. The Norwegian vibe-master has collaborated with Kanye West and Ariana Grande to name a few, and still remains to stay in the good graces of the scene’s savviest. With a meteoric rise over the past year, Cashmere Cat is sure to attract a substantial crowd that will be expecting to be taken to the future and back during his Sunday set.

Thomas Jack

When tropical house exploded in the blogosphere last year, there was one Australian who seemed to take command of the sunlit ship. Thomas Jack has accrued an almost cult-like following of fans through his sun-kissed remixes and all-star “Tropical House” mixtape series. Fans can expect a pineapple and palm tree infused house set from the tropical don, and those who get there early enough to be up front may witness one of Jack’s notorious “shoeys.”

Dixon

The Resistance Stage is one of the most buzzed features at this year’s Ultra. The festival has pulled together the underground’s pick of the litter for a brand new stage that has been hand-selected for those that want to “go against the grain.” Known for his inherent craftsmanship behind the decks, fans who have seen Dixon live in the past can attest to the mystical journey he embarks on when he blends groovy, minimal, deep, tech, and everything-in-between house cuts, and his Ultra appearance should not be anything less than stellar.

Valentino Khan

Only one producer is notorious for sporting a ferocious, retro mustache while dropping the most aggressive throbbing bass cuts. That man is Valentino Khan. In addition to his trademark facial hair, the LA producer can almost always be spotted wearing his black OWSLA logo tee of which he wears like a badge of honor. Despite Ultra’s cutback on dubstep, trap, and other hard-hitting acts, Valentino Khan is sure to pick up the slack at the OWSLA stage on Sunday where fans can expect their ears to be ringing for days, in the best way possible.